Under the Love Umbrella, by Davina Bell

When I heard that Davina Bell, author of the sweet Underwater Fancy Dress Parade, had a new book out I couldn't wait to see it. I rushed right out to our favourite bookshop and, as fortune would have it, snared the very last copy.

No surprises here, I loved it. It's for every little one who has felt nervous at school, who felt shy or had an embarrassing thing happen or kids, like me, who would last until about 10pm at a sleepover and then be desperate, tearily so, to see their parents and be home in their very own bed.

It's also the perfect gift for every parent that's had to put their babies in daycare.

When I went back to work, and Bea to daycare, it was awful. If that sounds melodramatic...well, daycare drop offs are. She would cry, I would cry, she would feel better five minutes after I left, I would cry the entire way to work. Ahh, parenthood.

Once, I tried to reassure her by saying that it was okay because Mama always comes back. Of course that only made it worse because she would quietly cry (kids take note: the quiet cry is infinitely more devastating to your parents than the tantrum cry) in the back seat of the car and repeat, the whole way there, "it's okay. Mama always comes back. It's okay". 

via giphy

So the idea that Bea is under my love umbrella, wherever she goes, is so reassuring and magical - it's a beautiful thought for her and me.

The illustrations, by Allison Colpoys, are bright and sweet and I loved seeing the diversity of families throughout the book. This is a gorgeous story for the worriers in your family who need that little bit of reassurance that they're okay, wherever they go. Perfect for kids from 3 and up and the perfect gift for any parents leaving their kids at daycare for the very first time (hang in there, I promise it gets better).

the book and the bea x

A Small Thing...but Big, by Tony Johnston

[via macmillan publishers]

Perfect for: 
Ages: 3-6
Occasion: animal lovers, anxiety around dogs/animals, confidence around pets
 
The Bea loves dogs. Everywhere we go, she has to stop for a chat, which means that a walk to the shop on our very dog friendly street can take half the afternoon ("Bye Winky!" she once exclaimed, inexplicably to a dog named Angus).

But I know that for many kids, dogs can be terrifying. I remember once babysitting a little girl who was so frightened of them that she'd cry on sight and jump if she heard a bark. It was heartbreaking in a way to see someone so little have such fear.

A Small Thing...But Big is a story for those kids.

Lizzie, who isn't so sure about dogs, goes to the park with her Mum. While she's playing, she comes across a little puppy called Cecile and her owner, a little old man who, as it turns out, is a little anxious himself.

What follows is the sweetest tale of taking things one small thing at a time, and how those small things add up to big things.

The language in this story ("how springingly she walks!") and the conversations between Lizzie and the old man are just gorgeous ("she is quite adoring being with you!"). The cheerful, simple illustrations complete the story.

[Yes. My child is wearing star wars pajamas with an Emma Wiggles dress. It has been going on for a week. Send help.]

I love that Lizzie knows to wait until Cecile's owner tells her it's okay to pat, play and walk with Cecile and there's a sweet message in there about how all dogs are good, once you get to know them.

This is a reassuring and bright little story, particularly for children who aren't so sure of those crazy puppies in the park. Animal lovers will adore this one too.

Now, if you'll excuse us, we're off to visit our doggy friends in the neighbourhood (it should only take six hours). 

the book and the bea x

Tough Guys Have Feelings Too, by Keith Negley

[via]

Perfect for:
Ages: 3-6
Occasion: expressing emotions, boys, feelings, tough guys
 
It's not always easy being a tough guy...

I know this has been spoken about at length, by a million experts (and bloggers) before, but I was still shocked at the level of gender stereotyping I came across after the Bea was born. Sure, I expected the clothes, the toys, even some of the books, but what truly shocked me was the language that we all (including myself) use.

The Bea was "sweet" and "darling" and a "princess", while her male friends were "tough" and "wild" and "such a boy". Now that she's a toddler, I hear more of the same at the park - "boys will be boys", "toughen up".

Boys being the tough guys starts young. They aren't often encouraged to really express their emotions (if it isn't "boyish" exuberance) and all of the heroes they're encouraged to look up to - Batman, Spiderman, astronauts, racing car drivers - aren't exactly known for having complex emotions or sensitivity. As angry as I feel about how little girls are spoken to and how this impacts on the rest of their lives, I also feel sad for little boys who aren't given much of an opportunity to be who they are, particularly if who they are is scared or shy or sad.

Tough Guys Have Feelings Too is the perfect anecdote if you, like me, are sick of talk that pigeon-holes our kids. Keith Negley wrote this book after struggling to find a book on expressing emotions for his young son and it's just perfect.

As it turns out, wrestlers and superheroes and cowboys and sailors all have feelings too. They feel sad, even with their friends or when they're on top of the world, even when they're supposed to be brave!

(via Upworthy)

This is a great one to get boys and dads talking (also a great one for little girls who have trouble expressing their emotions). The illustrations are cool, it's funny and the ending is just so sweet. It's a great reminder to all of us that being sad or lonely or down doesn't make you less of a superhero and that you're not alone in having those feelings.

Boys won't be boys. They will be good humans. Yes to more of this.

(via Ellie Hall)

the book and the bea x

Be Brave Little Penguin, by Giles Andreae

[via bookdepository]

Perfect for: 
Ages: 2-6
Occasion: First day at school, daycare, pre-school

Last Christmas, the Bea received many gifts, chief among them a brand new, state of the art, all-terrain, spectacular-spectacular balance bike. She took one dubious look, picked up the paper it was wrapped in and escaped in her "boat".

"Do you want to ride your bike?" "No! I'm in my boat!"

She spent approximately forty minutes in her paper boat just that morning, and countless time in the days that followed. But time on the balance bike? Zero. Nada. Zilch. Not for lack of trying on my behalf but she's flat out refused since she first saw it and how now graduated to saying it's just too "scawy" and she's too "yittle".

Sigh.

When I found Be Brave Little Penguin in one of my lunchtime book expeditions, I was immediately taken back to the Great Bike Debacle of 2016.

Pip-Pip is smaller than the other penguins and is just too scared to take his first dip in the water. His friends tease him, his Dad urges him to be brave and leap on in, but all he can imagine is how deep and cold it is and what might be waiting for him in the dark ocean. His Mama tells him to imagine how wonderful it might be - warm and fun and full of fish - and encourages him to ease himself into the shallows.

[via amazon]

Finally, Little Penguin takes a deep breath, imagines how great it might be and SPLASH! Dives on in.

This is a sweet little story for little penguins about being brave and thinking about the wonderful, instead of the scary, things that might happen if we take a risk. It's perfect for ages three and up, and would be a great one for kids heading off for the first day of daycare or school.

Be Brave Little Penguin is also a nice reminder for parents to take it easy when our little ones aren't quite up to the challenges we present them with every day. It reminded me to take it slowly, have faith and wait for my own little Penguin to be ready for her first big bike ride.

And in the meantime, at least we have a boat...

The book and the bea x

The Underwater Fancy-Dress Parade, by Davina Bell

[via]

Perfect for:
Ages: 3-6
Occasions:  school/dance/preschool performances, shyness, anxiety
 
It will come as a surprise to no one, that I am a socially awkward person. I've always been shy, sometimes painfully so, and though I'm now pretty good at hiding it, it can take me days to recover from a party with strangers (the thought of professional networking gives me hives).

I sometimes see shadows of this part of myself in the Bea. Funny and bold with friends, she'll turn quiet and pensive in a crowd. Confident playing at home, but suddenly needing to remind herself that "Mummy always comes back". She watches, and takes her time, which is something that I love about her.

The Underwater Parade is a beautiful exploration of what it feels like to experience social anxiety, shyness and introversion. To be afraid of something that seems so small to everyone else. To feel that as much as you aspire to be otherwise, the challenge of being the life of the party, noticed in a crowd or BIG feels insurmountable.

The Underwater Parade tells the story of Alfie who, the night before the big Underwater Fancy-Dress Parade, gets that feeling. It's the same feeling he had before a friend's birthday party, when he had to ask his Mum to turn the car around. It isn't a nice feeling.

[via]

 Alfie wants to be brave enough to be Captain Starfish, but he doesn't know if he can be.

What I loved most about this story, apart from the way it so perfectly captures the fears and worries of sensitive children, is the calm understanding and patience of the parents. Sure, they encourage Alfie along, but ultimately they accept him. They realise that his fears are real, even if they seem small in a grown up world. One day he will be brave enough, but it won't be today. He is loved, just as he is.

There's also a realness to this story. No heroism, no miraculous pep talk that leads to him conquering the show. And that, I think, would be a comfort to an anxious child. They're not alone - here is someone that feels like them. And they don't have to be a hero or experience a miraculous recovery from feeling the way they do. It's okay to be shy and nervous. It's okay not to do the thing that makes you worried. It's okay to be who you are.

[via]

This is the perfect story for an anxious little person in your life, especially in peak school and Christmas time performance season. The illustrations are incredibly beautiful and the narration is soothing and reassuring. It won't make the anxiousness vanish but it might make sensitive souls feel a little more understood which, I think, is infinitely more important.

We can't all be Captain Starfish in the school play. And that's okay (the world has plenty of Captains anyway).

The Book and the Bea x